Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress—Test Time and Scheduling

Questions

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Are there time limits for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessments?

No; all CAASPP assessments are untimed.

How long will the Smarter Balanced assessments take?

The estimated amount of time individual students need will depend on the grade, content area, and type of items.

Content Area

Grade(s)

Computer Adaptive Test items
hrs:mins

Performance Task (PT)
hrs:mins

Total
hrs:mins

English Language Arts/Literacy

3–5

1:30

2:00

3:30

6–8

1:30

2:00

3:30

11

2:00

2:00

4:00

Mathematics

3–5

1:30

1:00

2:30

6–8

2:00

1:00

3:00

11

2:00

1:30

3:30

Both

3–5

3:00

3:00

6:00

6–8

3:30

3:00

6:30

11

4:00

3:30

7:30

How long will the online California Science Test (CAST) take?

Administration of the CAST field test is estimated to take approximately two hours. Note that the CAST is an untimed test, but almost all students should complete it within one to two hours.

Do time estimates refer to the total computer lab time, or does that time need to be multiplied by the number of classrooms?

The time estimates do not reflect total computer lab time (including time needed to start computers, log students on, etc.); they are only an estimate of the time students will spend testing for each content area. The total test time will need to be adjusted to include those additional activities. To determine the number of students who may test simultaneously and, therefore, the total time that labs may be occupied, school personnel can use the bandwidth checker.

How should schools sequence and schedule the components of the Smarter Balanced assessments?

For the Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments, Smarter Balanced recommends that students take the performance task (PT) and the computer adaptive testing (CAT) portions on separate days. Smarter Balanced also recommends that students begin with the CAT portion and then the PT. Local educational agencies/Schools may opt to administer the assessments in a different order if needed.

What advice can be provided for testing students in nonpublic, nonsectarian schools (NPSs)?

Test administrators and test examiners at NPS schools should reach out to the LEA CAASPP coordinators who is responsible for placing the student at the NPS for information about testing windows and with their questions about CAASPP testing.

When will the test results be populated in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS)?

Preliminary test results are populated in the Online Reporting System and final results are provided to local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools via printed Student Score Reports (SSRs). SSRs are also available for download on the Test Operations Management System (TOMS). Student assessment results are not available in CALPADS.
LEAs and schools should monitor communication from the California Technical Assistance Center and/or the California Department of Education for information regarding the length of time test processing—from scoring submitted tests to the calculation of results—is expected to take.

What is the online test settings deadline for the Test Operations Management System?

The online test settings deadline can vary by test administration. For the current administration’s deadline, see the LEA CAASPP Coordinator Checklist, which is available separately and also as part of the Online Test Administration Manual. Both are available on the Manuals and Instructions Web page on the CAASPP Portal. Please also monitor communication from the California Technical Assistance Center and/or the California Department of Education for information regarding upcoming deadlines.

Will the scores for the online Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments available within three weeks of completion include student performance on the performance task (PT)?

The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts/literacy and mathematics include both computer-scored components (scored immediately) and hand-scored components. Preliminary individual student performance data will be displayed in the Online Reporting System only after students have completed the computer-scored components and the hand-scoring portion of their results have been processed.
Local educational agencies and schools should monitor communication from the California Technical Assistance Center and/or the California Department of Education for information regarding the length of time test processing—from scoring submitted tests to the calculation of results—is expected to take.

When does the 20-day clock start for sending Student Score Reports to parents/guardians?

Pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 863 (a) and (b), Student Score Reports must be made available to each student’s parent or guardian within 20 days of receipt of the report at the local educational agency (LEA). However, if the reports are received after the last day of the instructional year, the report must be made available within 20 working days of the next school year.